Overview

• Non‑EU travelers must provide fingerprints and a facial image on first entry, with children under 12 exempt from fingerprinting.
• Estonia and Croatia will activate the system at all entry points from launch, while other countries will phase in deployment by specific airports and ports.
• UK guidance says travelers entering the Schengen area via the Port of Dover, Eurotunnel at Folkestone, or London St Pancras will have biometrics captured before leaving the UK.
• Each traveler’s digital record remains valid for three years, and repeat visits during that period involve only a quick biometric check on entry and exit.
• Refusing to provide biometrics can result in denied entry, travelers should expect slightly longer processing during rollout, and passport stamps will end for short stays by April 10, 2026.